The Verve have spoken about their forthcoming new album, which they are putting the finishing touches to now. Speaking to NME, bassist Simon Jones explained that he hoped the results would be “spectacular” on the belated follow-up to 1997's 'Urban Hymns'.
“There’s ‘Sit And Wonder’ – that’s the one we were doing at the gigs,” Jones explained. “That was born out of a 25-minute jam, and we just edited it down into a song. That’s kind of the method we’ve always used, ever since the early days. We all take away the tracks, and make a note of all the bits that are good, then just put them together.
He added: “Then there’s ‘Appalachian Springs’, which is a song of Richard (Ashcroft, lead singer)’s, but one where there’s just three chords going round and round so we can still jam through it as a band. And ‘Mona Lisa’, that’s a much more strictly written, Richard-y type thing.”
These more structured Ashcroft moments will be balanced out by the likes of ‘Judas’ – a song born out of a full band jam, with Nick McCabe’s guitar playing leading the way. Jones described ‘Rather Be’, a song set for the album, as having “a string line looping around three chords all the way through – kind of like ‘Bitter Sweet Symphony’ did, although it’s not really anything like that".
He said: “It needs arranging, but that’s a pretty strong one. It’s very vocally led that one, with loads of great intertwining vocal lines, kind of making a chorus even though the chords haven’t changed. Richard’s a bit of a master at that.” The band, who are recording their first record in over a decade at the at State of The Ark studios in Richmond, Surrey, are aiming to get the record out towards the end of the spring, in time for festival headline slots this summer.
“For us now it’s just a case of getting the balance between Richard’s songs and the more jam-based songs,” the bass player concluded. “If we can get the balance right, then it’s gonna be a spectacular record, without a shadow of a doubt."
Source: NME
* See similar article here.
26 January 2008
21 January 2008
Festival rumors and facts
Verve are rumored to be playing at the coming V, T in the Park, and Reading Festivals in the United Kingdom. The newly reunited band will also be touching down Stateside for the first time since splitting in 1999. They are scheduled to play at the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival in Indio, California.
* The V Festival runs from Saturday the 16th to Sunday the 17th of August. Tickets are currently unavailable.
* Coachella Festival runs from April 25-27.
* The V Festival runs from Saturday the 16th to Sunday the 17th of August. Tickets are currently unavailable.
* Coachella Festival runs from April 25-27.
17 January 2008
Verve to postpone album?
The Verve have joined an increasing number of artists - including the like of Robbie Williams, Coldplay and Paul McCartney - in a protest against their record label EMI.
The newly reunited band is now threatening to withhold their next album until they receive assurances about the record label’s financial security.
The Verve were due to deliver their long-awaited follow-up to 1997’s 'Urban Hymns' in June. A question mark now looms over whether this release date still stands.
As already reported, Radiohead and Paul McCartney have already walked out in protest and Coldplay are considering following suit. It is also reported that Robbie Williams is 'on strike' until the label sorts itself out.
A delegation of band managers led by The Verve and Snow Patrol manager Jazz Summers will meet the new boss of EMI in Kensington today (January 15).
Summers revealed his anger over the reduction in advances paid to artists, commenting that EMI, led by Guy Hands, "has not got a clue of what this business is about".
Source: NME
The newly reunited band is now threatening to withhold their next album until they receive assurances about the record label’s financial security.
The Verve were due to deliver their long-awaited follow-up to 1997’s 'Urban Hymns' in June. A question mark now looms over whether this release date still stands.
As already reported, Radiohead and Paul McCartney have already walked out in protest and Coldplay are considering following suit. It is also reported that Robbie Williams is 'on strike' until the label sorts itself out.
A delegation of band managers led by The Verve and Snow Patrol manager Jazz Summers will meet the new boss of EMI in Kensington today (January 15).
Summers revealed his anger over the reduction in advances paid to artists, commenting that EMI, led by Guy Hands, "has not got a clue of what this business is about".
Source: NME
04 January 2008
The big names are back for 2008
The big guns are out and, if they’re not firing blanks, 2008 should be one of the great years for new music.
OASIS: The light blue side of Manchester has plenty to celebrate with Sven’s boys flying high . . . and the prospect of a seventh Oasis album. Noel, Liam and Co began recording it on November 5 with Don’t Believe The Truth producer Dave Sardy. The buzz? Sonic fireworks.
U2: The band have been writing and recording in France and Morocco. With Joshua Tree pair Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois back in tow, the follow-up to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb might be a U2 masterpiece.
COLDPLAY: Eno is also producer on Coldplay’s fourth album, rumoured to be called Prospekt. It’s thought to be a concise album and the one “people will remember them by”. Among song titles are Famous Old Painters, Glass Of Water, Poppy Fields and Leftrightleftrightleft.
DIDO: It’s been a long wait for a new long player by the mega-selling Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong. Her first since 2003’s Life For Rent has been delayed by the death of her father and is said to be inspired by drives down the west coast of America. Expected songs include Look No Further, Never Want To Say It’s Love and Grafton Street. Sony BMG’s big hope for 2008.
MADONNA: Expect a hip-hop flavoured album from Her Madge. The eleventh and last studio album for Warner lines up the stellar talents of Timbaland and Pharell Williams. First single is probably 4 Minutes To Save The World, with Justin Timberlake.
GREEN DAY: Few records made such an impact in the Noughties as Green Day’s 2004 magnum opus American Idiot. Singer Billie Joe Armstrong has written around 45 songs to be considered for their follow-up eighth studio album.
KASABIAN: The lovable Leicester lot are pretty excited about their third album. Singer Tom Meighan has enthused: “It’s gonna be progressive and it sounds like an owl at night-time.” Guitarist Serge Pizzorno revealed he’s written a song inspired by Syd Barrett.
RAZORLIGHT: If it’s as big as Johnny Borrell’s ego, Razorlight’s third album will be an all-conquering, multi-platinum classic. Johnny went into the studio with the band on October 29 to start writing it. SFTW approves. Rock needs characters like him.
KEANE: Tom Chaplin has popped into rehab since 2006’s Under The Iron Sea but things are looking up for Keane’s next record. Tom revealed that 15 songs have been written and communication between band members has improved.
R.E.M.: Even Stipe, Buck and Mills weren’t overjoyed with 2004’s Around The Sun but signs are that the Jacknife Lee-produced Accelerate (out March 31) is a return to form. Confirmed tracks include Until The Day Is Done, Living Well Is The Best Revenge, Mr Richards and I’m Gonna DJ (a set regular on their 2004/05 world tour.) Stipe says the guitar-driven LP is “the fastest we’ve made in 20 years”.
THE VERVE: Of all the reunions, it’s the ones that deliver new product that count the most. Richard Ashcroft and Co’s first album since 1997’s towering Urban Hymns is one of 2008’s most anticipated musical events. Bassist Simon Jones said songs are called Sit And Wonder, Judas, Appalachian Springs, Mona Lisa and Rather Be.
THE FRATELLIS: The Scots rockers won Best Breakthrough Act at the 2007 Brits for debut Costello Music. In November, they booked rehearsal space to start the second album.
HOT CHIP: One of the year’s first big-hitters is Made In The Dark, the rockier third album by London’s electro-popsters. Single Shake A Fist served notice of a bolder and brighter approach.
THE RACONTEURS: Jack White thinks of The Raconteurs as way more than a side project. He says the band’s sophomore album is “very different” from Broken Boy Soldiers and that it’s “coming out great”. Recorded at Blackbird Studios in Jack’s adopted home of Nashville.
THE KOOKS: Brighton’s hugely popular indie act have once again teamed up with producer Tony Hoffer. They’ve named the new album Konk after the London studios where they recorded it. Singer Luke Pritchard promises a “dynamic, modern yet warm and roots-based sound”.
THE FEELING: We’ve got a “feeling” that the soft-rockers will sidestep the second album wobbles of many a band. Join With Us arrives mid-February and looks set to build on the success of 12 Stops And Home. First single: I Thought It Was Over.
FRANZ FERDINAND: Let’s hope the Scottish art rockers aren’t governed by the law of diminishing returns. Singer Alex Kapranos has revealed a secret weapon . . . “an old Russian synthesiser built from spare parts in the Cold War”. One new song is Lucid Dreams.
THE STREETS: Mike Skinner recently posted a new song on his MySpace reminiscent of his Original Pirate Material days before replacing it with his blinding cover of Sir Elt’s Your Song. Don’t write off a singular talent.
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS: Few will forget Antony’s hauntingly beautiful delivery on the Mercury-winning I Am A Bird Now. New album The Crying Light arrives early summer.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS: Wouldn’t we all just love a return to form by Robbie, particular after the decidedly patchy Rudebox and the success of his old muckers Take That. His next album is rumoured to feature songwriting partner Guy Chambers and has been slated for an autumn release.
OASIS: The light blue side of Manchester has plenty to celebrate with Sven’s boys flying high . . . and the prospect of a seventh Oasis album. Noel, Liam and Co began recording it on November 5 with Don’t Believe The Truth producer Dave Sardy. The buzz? Sonic fireworks.
U2: The band have been writing and recording in France and Morocco. With Joshua Tree pair Brian Eno and Daniel Lanois back in tow, the follow-up to 2004’s How To Dismantle An Atom Bomb might be a U2 masterpiece.
COLDPLAY: Eno is also producer on Coldplay’s fourth album, rumoured to be called Prospekt. It’s thought to be a concise album and the one “people will remember them by”. Among song titles are Famous Old Painters, Glass Of Water, Poppy Fields and Leftrightleftrightleft.
DIDO: It’s been a long wait for a new long player by the mega-selling Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle Armstrong. Her first since 2003’s Life For Rent has been delayed by the death of her father and is said to be inspired by drives down the west coast of America. Expected songs include Look No Further, Never Want To Say It’s Love and Grafton Street. Sony BMG’s big hope for 2008.
MADONNA: Expect a hip-hop flavoured album from Her Madge. The eleventh and last studio album for Warner lines up the stellar talents of Timbaland and Pharell Williams. First single is probably 4 Minutes To Save The World, with Justin Timberlake.
GREEN DAY: Few records made such an impact in the Noughties as Green Day’s 2004 magnum opus American Idiot. Singer Billie Joe Armstrong has written around 45 songs to be considered for their follow-up eighth studio album.
KASABIAN: The lovable Leicester lot are pretty excited about their third album. Singer Tom Meighan has enthused: “It’s gonna be progressive and it sounds like an owl at night-time.” Guitarist Serge Pizzorno revealed he’s written a song inspired by Syd Barrett.
RAZORLIGHT: If it’s as big as Johnny Borrell’s ego, Razorlight’s third album will be an all-conquering, multi-platinum classic. Johnny went into the studio with the band on October 29 to start writing it. SFTW approves. Rock needs characters like him.
KEANE: Tom Chaplin has popped into rehab since 2006’s Under The Iron Sea but things are looking up for Keane’s next record. Tom revealed that 15 songs have been written and communication between band members has improved.
R.E.M.: Even Stipe, Buck and Mills weren’t overjoyed with 2004’s Around The Sun but signs are that the Jacknife Lee-produced Accelerate (out March 31) is a return to form. Confirmed tracks include Until The Day Is Done, Living Well Is The Best Revenge, Mr Richards and I’m Gonna DJ (a set regular on their 2004/05 world tour.) Stipe says the guitar-driven LP is “the fastest we’ve made in 20 years”.
THE VERVE: Of all the reunions, it’s the ones that deliver new product that count the most. Richard Ashcroft and Co’s first album since 1997’s towering Urban Hymns is one of 2008’s most anticipated musical events. Bassist Simon Jones said songs are called Sit And Wonder, Judas, Appalachian Springs, Mona Lisa and Rather Be.THE FRATELLIS: The Scots rockers won Best Breakthrough Act at the 2007 Brits for debut Costello Music. In November, they booked rehearsal space to start the second album.
HOT CHIP: One of the year’s first big-hitters is Made In The Dark, the rockier third album by London’s electro-popsters. Single Shake A Fist served notice of a bolder and brighter approach.
THE RACONTEURS: Jack White thinks of The Raconteurs as way more than a side project. He says the band’s sophomore album is “very different” from Broken Boy Soldiers and that it’s “coming out great”. Recorded at Blackbird Studios in Jack’s adopted home of Nashville.
THE KOOKS: Brighton’s hugely popular indie act have once again teamed up with producer Tony Hoffer. They’ve named the new album Konk after the London studios where they recorded it. Singer Luke Pritchard promises a “dynamic, modern yet warm and roots-based sound”.
THE FEELING: We’ve got a “feeling” that the soft-rockers will sidestep the second album wobbles of many a band. Join With Us arrives mid-February and looks set to build on the success of 12 Stops And Home. First single: I Thought It Was Over.
FRANZ FERDINAND: Let’s hope the Scottish art rockers aren’t governed by the law of diminishing returns. Singer Alex Kapranos has revealed a secret weapon . . . “an old Russian synthesiser built from spare parts in the Cold War”. One new song is Lucid Dreams.
THE STREETS: Mike Skinner recently posted a new song on his MySpace reminiscent of his Original Pirate Material days before replacing it with his blinding cover of Sir Elt’s Your Song. Don’t write off a singular talent.
ANTONY & THE JOHNSONS: Few will forget Antony’s hauntingly beautiful delivery on the Mercury-winning I Am A Bird Now. New album The Crying Light arrives early summer.
ROBBIE WILLIAMS: Wouldn’t we all just love a return to form by Robbie, particular after the decidedly patchy Rudebox and the success of his old muckers Take That. His next album is rumoured to feature songwriting partner Guy Chambers and has been slated for an autumn release.
- Full list : The Sun
More on benefit concert
Labels:
miscellaneous,
verve tour update
LIAM GALLAGHER is set to front a Manchester supergroup in a “mad fer it” live show. The OASIS singer will share the stage with a whole host of other rock ’n’ roll legends from the city at the Manchester V Cancer charity concert next month.
He will perform joint vocals with former STONE ROSES’ singer IAN BROWN, and the pair will be backed by trio FREEBASS who consist of ex-SMITHS star ANDY ROURKE, NEW ORDER’s PETER HOOK and MANI from PRIMAL SCREAM.
Freebass has been a side project of the three bass legends for a few years. But the show at the MEN Arena on February 23 will be the group’s first proper concert. City fan Liam won’t be impressed, but I have dubbed the group “Manchester United”.
A source told me: “Liam and Ian Brown will join Freebass on vocals in their first full live show. “It will be one of the musical events of the year. Manc music fans will be in rock ’n’ roll heaven.” Freebass have been quietly working on an album for the last year.
All three of the founder members are from the Manchester area and play the bass guitar on the material. For vocals in the studio they have called in favours from Liam and Ian as well as CHARLATANS singer TIM BURGESS and Primal Scream frontman BOBBY GILLESPIE.
If the Cancer show is a success they could follow it up by hitting the festivals in the summer. Rourke organises the charity show, which was one of my gigs of the year in 2007. And with Gallagher and Brown signed up for the performance, this year’s gig could be even better than last time.
Other acts being lined up to perform include THE VERVE, JAMES, INSPIRAL CARPETS and HAPPY MONDAYS. Rourke revealed: “This year’s gig is going to be talked about for years to come. “We’ve got some of the biggest bands of the moment lined up as well as some legendary acts.”
Bring it on... Visit www.versuscancer.org for more information.
Source: The Sun
He will perform joint vocals with former STONE ROSES’ singer IAN BROWN, and the pair will be backed by trio FREEBASS who consist of ex-SMITHS star ANDY ROURKE, NEW ORDER’s PETER HOOK and MANI from PRIMAL SCREAM.
Freebass has been a side project of the three bass legends for a few years. But the show at the MEN Arena on February 23 will be the group’s first proper concert. City fan Liam won’t be impressed, but I have dubbed the group “Manchester United”.
A source told me: “Liam and Ian Brown will join Freebass on vocals in their first full live show. “It will be one of the musical events of the year. Manc music fans will be in rock ’n’ roll heaven.” Freebass have been quietly working on an album for the last year.
All three of the founder members are from the Manchester area and play the bass guitar on the material. For vocals in the studio they have called in favours from Liam and Ian as well as CHARLATANS singer TIM BURGESS and Primal Scream frontman BOBBY GILLESPIE.
If the Cancer show is a success they could follow it up by hitting the festivals in the summer. Rourke organises the charity show, which was one of my gigs of the year in 2007. And with Gallagher and Brown signed up for the performance, this year’s gig could be even better than last time.
Other acts being lined up to perform include THE VERVE, JAMES, INSPIRAL CARPETS and HAPPY MONDAYS. Rourke revealed: “This year’s gig is going to be talked about for years to come. “We’ve got some of the biggest bands of the moment lined up as well as some legendary acts.”
Bring it on... Visit www.versuscancer.org for more information.
Source: The Sun
Guitar tips and new live date
Guitar tips from Nick McCabe can be found in this months NME. See interview here. Also, a new charity concert date has been added to 2008.
After watching The Football Factory, This Is England or any other hard streets of Britain movie, it’s hard to say which party will come out on top after Liam Gallagher plays the Manchester V Cancer charity concert.
But if anyone can beat cancer it may very well be those hard-drinking, bad-tempered English lads, Liam Gallagher, Stone Roser Ian Brown and the Freebass trio who will form a band for the concert event next month.
The Verve, James, Inspiral Carpets and Happy Mondays will also play the benefit gig.
The Manchester V Cancer Charity Concert with Liam Gallagher is on February 23.'
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